A Neptune-sized planet in a binary star system has been discovered by a team of astronomers working alongside citizen scientists. TOI 4633 c, also known as Percival, is located approximately 309 light-years away from Earth and takes 272 days to complete an orbit around the central star. The discovery of this unusual system was made possible with the help of over 43,000 volunteers from 90 countries involved in NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS)’s Planet Hunters project.
The details of this unique system have been documented in a paper published in the Astrophysical Journal. Lead author Nora Eisner, a research fellow at the Flatiron Institute’s Center for Computational Astrophysics in New York City, emphasizes the importance of discovering planets in multi-star systems to comprehend the variations in planet formation.
The discovery of TOI 4633 c is notable as it is located much farther than typical planets found using the transit method and its host star is the brightest known to host a transiting planet in the “habitable” zone. Furthermore, it is believed that a second planet orbits the star every 34 days. The assistance of citizen scientists in flagging potential new planets and contributing to follow-up studies highlights the collaborative effort behind such discoveries.
As researchers continue to study TOI 4633 c and its system, there is a possibility that they may find a moon with a solid surface that could harbor water, opening up new avenues for exploration and understanding planet formation.